Folding table.



N. SCHUMACHER.

FOLDING TABLE. AP-ILIUATION-TILED SEPT. 7, 1909.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

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FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, fllt.

Application filed September 7, 1909. Serial No. 516,497.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, NICOLAS SCHUMACHER, citizen of the United States, residing at La motte, in the county of Jackson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a leaf table that may be readily folded together to occupy a small space but leaving the central portion of the top of the table undisturbed.

A further object is to provide a folding table having a central support that sustains the table and to which the various parts of the table are attached.

Of what it consists, the manner of construction and mode of operation will be fully set out in the following speciication and drawings accompanying the same and forming a part hereof.

Figure l, is a top plan view, with a portion of the table top broken away to disclose underlying parts. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the pedestal detached, Fig. 4 is a section therethrough on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged elevations of the bracing member.

Like characters of reference refer to the same parts in each of the figures.

Referring to the drawings 2 designates the central standard to which the various parts of the table hereinafter to be described are attached. The standardy 2 is recessed on opposite sides at 4 leaving the beveled or angular corners 5 that extend lengthwise of the standard with the exception of a short distance at each end, in which spaces 6 are secured brackets 8 provided with an opening therethrough.

The legs l are rectangular on two sides and curved or angular on their other two sides and are provided at both of their ends with a pin 12 by which they are pivoted to the standard through the brackets 8. To the lower part of the legs are secured feet l provided with casters 16. There is also secured to each leg near the top a bent outstanding arm for the purposes presently to appear.

In the recesses 4 between the legs 10 and Hush with the top of the standard 2 are secured blocks 22 that are curved inwardly on each side at 24 sufficiently to allow the legs freely to turn therein. Upon the top of the standard 2 and the blocks 22 is secured a plate 25 and upon this plate is securely fastened the central member 26 of the top of the table. To the opposite edges of the member 26 are hinged the leaves 28 of the table, and against the under side of each leaf there are attached arms 30 that project downward when the leaf is raised or opened and engage the ends of the members 20 and lock or prevent the legs from turning, and when the leaves of the table are being opened these arms 30 engage the members 2O and force the legs outward.

In opposite sides of the standard 2 are recesses 7 in each of which is fastened a bracket 34 provided with a pivot pin 36 to which a supporting member 35 is pivoted. To the upper end of the member 35 is secured a loop 38 in which an arm 40 is adapted to slide. The arm is pivoted to a bracket 42 secured to the under side of one leaf of the table and terminates at the other end in an enlarged portion 44 adapted to engage the end of the loop 38 and limit its movement within the loop. In the center of the enlarged end there is an opening in which is loosely inserted a pin 45.

Upon the pivot pin 36 is pivoted a spring 46 that passes up parallel with the member 35 and engages a shoulder 39 on the end of the arm beneath the enlargement 44, and is adapted to be engaged by the pin 45 and forced out of engagement with the shoulder 39 on the arm 40.

The manner of operating my device is substantially as follows Starting with both of the leaves raised or opened the operator presses upon the pin 45 which forces the spring 46 out of engagement with the shoulder 39 on the arm 40, and allows the leaf 28 to be turned down. As it is brought down the arms 30 are moved away from engagement with the ends of the outstanding arms 20, and when the leaf comes in contact with the outstanding arms 2O it forces the legs 10 around on their pivot pins l2 in the brackets 8 and with it the feet 15 into position as shown in Fig. 2, and the arm 40, has projected down through the loop 38 and partly turned into the recess 32. rIh-e operator then does the same to the other leaf, and the table is folded with the legs parallel with the leaves. When the table is to be opened then the operator simply raises one of the leaves which action brings the arm 30 against the outstanding arm 20 and the further raising of the leaf will cause the arm 30 to press along the side of the outstanding arm, 20 thereby turning it and, since the outstanding arm 2O is attached to the leg, the latter will be forced into its quarter, when the arm 30 has come to the end of the outstanding arm 20 and will lock it and the leg in that position. This raising of the leaf will also draw the arm 40 up along the member 35 until the shoulder on the arm has come to the end of the spring 46 when the spring comes into action and engages the shoulder 39 on the end of the arm 40, and the leaf is then held in a horizontal plane.

It will be seen that the opening and closing of the table is operated by the leaves, and that when the table is closed there is still a small table along the center on the central member 26. It will also be seen that all of the different parts of the table are attached to a central standard and thus the table is substantially steady, whether the leaves are opened or closed and will occupy but small space.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a folding table, a single standard, legs pivoted or hinged to the standard near the ends thereof, a central member secured to the top of the standard, leaves hinged to the central member, depending arms secured to each leaf on the under side thereof, and an outstanding arm attached to each leg near the top adapted to be engaged by one of the said depending arms to force the legs outwardly when the leaves are opened.

2. In a folding table, a single standard, legs pivoted to the standard, a central member secured to the top of the standard, leaves hinged to the central member, an arm secured to each leaf on the under side, and a member attached to each leg near the top adapted to be engaged at its end by the arms on the leaves, and lock the legs in their outward position when the leaves are opened.

3. In a folding table, a single standard provided with recesses in its opposite sides, a central member secured to said standard, leaves hinged to the central member, legs hinged or pivoted near their ends to the standard, a member attached to each leg near its upper end, and operated by the leaves for folding the legs, and a stay for sustaining the leaves in open position eonsisting of an arm pivoted to the under side of the leaf, a member pivoted to the standard, and a spring pivoted to the standard and adapted to engage the shoulder on-the arm secured to the under side of the leaf.

4. In a folding'table, a central standard, legs hinged to opposite sides thereof, a central top member, a leaf hinged thereto, an

outstanding arm secured to each leg, depending arms on the leaf one adjacent each of said outstanding arms, said depending arms being adapted to engage the said outstanding arms to unfold the legs when the leaf is raised, and to retain the legs in unfolded positions, said outstanding arms being adapted `to be engaged by the leaf when the latter is lowered to move the legs to unfolded positions.

5. In a folding table, a central standard, a pair of legs hinged to each of two opposite sides thereof, hingedleaves mounted on the standard,the legs being movable to'folded and unfolded positions by the raising and lowering of the leaves, and beveled stops on the outer edges of the standard adjacenteach leg and against which the legs abut when unfolded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NICOLAS SCHUMACHER. Witnesses M. M. CADY, E. M. NooNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

